bwaydiva

I am not banded nor have I ever been pregnant but because of my job and my parent's professions growing up, I was hoping to offer some insight anyway. The reason why doctor's don't want you losing weight is because your body releases chemicals and toxins that can hurt your child. Your body needs to be able to release the "weight gain" chemicals in order for your baby to be healthy. If you're losing weight, even a pound a week, you might be jeopardizing the health of your baby. Dieting can also lead to malnutrition for yourself or your baby. If you go into ketosis (ie you eliminate carbs from your diet) you and your child will be in a ketogenic state which is great for weight loss but not so good for your baby. In fact it can cause fetal brain damage. Please be careful and ask your doctor before continuing any weight loss program. I hope this helps. Congrats on your pregnancy. Good luck, Sheila Here are some sites that might help you. http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/pregnancynutrition/3561.html http://www.thelaboroflove.com/articles/is-it-safe-to-diet-during-pregnancy/

THREE WEEKS FROM TODAY!! THREE SHORT WEEKS!! I can't believe by this time in three weeks... (currently 8:02 in sunny California) I will be banded! Our little thread sure is growing... Someday soon, maybe I'll have a banding buddy! Have a great day everyone.

Ohhh I am SOOOO jealous of all of you who are having insurance cover their bands!! GRRRRR!!!! I think I'm going to make a pay pal account where ya'll can donate to my cause. Or at least help me find a suitable brown box to live in. =) Just kidding. The money thing is REALLY hard for me right now. It's just eating me alive when I think about giving up school for the band. I'm not doing that... but I'm not all too sure where the finances for my senior year are going to come from... I'm trying to just let go of it and trust that things will work out the way that they are supposed to. Julz, my dad died very unexpectedly when I was a senior in high school so I can certainly empathize. But to lose a child... you are a fierce woman to have survived that and still see hope and goodness in the world. Sorry I was absent for a few days... March is audition month for all the summer shows... it's been a little nutty! With love, Sheila

Here's My List: I actually printed it out and framed it on my wall. Some of them are repeats but here we go! 1.) Being able to fully embrace myself as athletic, outgoing and sexy :drum: 2.) Feeling in Control :hungry: 3.) Cute Clothes 4.) No limitations on career 5.) Better health- NO DIABETES :eek: 6.) Fit more comfortably on a roller coaster and air plane :flypig: 7.) Feeling and being sexy in a pair of jeans 8.) Take cute pictures with family and friends:behindsofa: 9.) Meeting people and having them judge me based on who I am, not how I look 10.) Conquering the voices of self doubt once and for all!! :der: 11.) Looking cute at the gym 12.) Going clubbing without feeling self-conscious :nerd: 13.) Being a true friend who is no focused on her own issues 14.) Going back to New York looking smokin’ hot :embarassed: 15.) Not being self conscious ALL THE TIME! 16.) Getting to chose whether I want to where slutty clothes (as opposed to just saying "I don't wear fun little mini skirts." Really, I CAN'T wear mini skirts!):Banane20: 17.) Being healthy and happy 18.) Getting roles based on how I perform, not how I look :music: 19.) Happy feet- not the movie!! 20.) Being physically attractive to another person MY AGE 21.) Becoming a sponsor at OA for other overweight bulimics in recovery :welldoneclap: 22.) Going to the Renfrew Reunion in June and being healthy! 23.) Volunteering at Renfrew to tell my story 24.) Being able to teach my (future) children by example how to live well 25.) Being able to enjoy and relish the body that God gave me 26.) Being able to kick my dad’s butt in racquetball 27.) Having improved cardiovascular health :Banane43: 28.) HAVING CHOICE IN MY LIFE!! 29.) Being able to turn 21 and be around 210 pounds! :happybday2:

TERRY!! LOL!! Your images are hilarious. I love the combo of the rabbi and the dancing pony. You guys are so funny. OMG! I've been having wacked up dreams all this week. I mean wacked up dreams. Like, I had this dream last night that someone was chocking me and I woke up and I couldn't breathe. Talk about freaky. Then I went to get a class of water and I swear to you someone was sitting on the couch. I thought nothing of it because my brother said he would be home late. Talked to him this morning and he spent the night at a friends house!! Yikes. Jennifur, I totally agree with you about our lives starting in April. I feel like this band is the first of many good steps... buddhist saying... a journey of a thousand steps, begins with one. Brava, for working with a "head doctor" (that's so cute) and facing the demons head on. I feel like my weight sometimes keeps me insulated from facing my life and my past. It's really tough. You're doing a great job and I can tell that your wisdom will help this group be even stronger! Michelle, did it work? Is he shoveling? That is such a great idea. Thats what I love about guys, in general they are VERY simple creatures. I hope ya'll have a great day. We're gonna be banded before you know it!

Terry, I TOTALLY agree with you! I am WAY sick of being fat and uncomfortable. Everyone, with the exception of my mom, has been over the moon supportive... but I've been picky with who I tell. Or is it whom I tell? Don't know. Don't care. Anyway, I too am really looking forward to being banded in the Spring and Summer. All those fresh fruits and veggies! Also it's gorgeous during the summer here and the 100+ degree weather will certainly be an incentive to go hop in the pool. I'm thinking about joining a non-competitive, community swim team. Sounds like fun! I hope that all of you are sleeping as I write this... I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'm so grateful to have you all in my life. These decisions are exciting but also scary and it's wonderful to be able to relate to others in a similar situation. Thank you all so very much! Off to bed!

My mom gave me money for school and when I decided to take this year off, I just held onto it. Now I'm using that money, that should be going for school, for this surgery. I was going to have to account for the money eventually so I thought it would be better if she knew before hand rather than later. It's not really bravery on my part... I just thought it was the right thing to do. It had very little to do with her per se; it was more about my own need for personal clarity and integrity. I'm not putting anyone down!! I will not be telling my classmates or anyone like that. But I needed to tell her because she's family... That's all. Nothing brave. Please understand that there is no point in me going to school if I don't lose the weight. I'm majoring in musical theatre at school. When I graduate from school, if I'm overweight I won't have a future or even the possibility of one in my chosen profession. I'm sick of playing fat girl roles and I'm ready to embrace my new future. If I don't lose the weight I'm not only going to be unhealthy but I'll be giving up my dreams as well. I refuse to let anyone... even my own mom... stand in the way of that.

You guys are the best. I'll write more this evening. But I needed to tell you just how much I appreciate your wisdom. I think the April bandsters are really becoming my surrogate family... the family who really understands. You guys are great and I'm incredibly grateful to have you all in my life. With love, Sheila

"Hi Sheila, I have spent all night reviewing the lap band surgery and cannot support this decision. I cannot find longterm data suggesting that this is safe and effective. Furthermore, the reoperation rate appears to be about one in five. I was not impressed with the Fresno doctor's website. At this point I do not believe that this approach is in your best interest and I think scheduling this procedure in Fresno is a very serious mistake. Mom" To say that I'm hurt is an understatement. Is anyone else having problems with their family? My surgery is scheduled for April 11th at 7:30 and I WILL be sucessful. I'm on sabbatical from school to lose weight and get bulimia off the list of coping mechanisms. Well I've worked my arse off these past 9 months and I'm done with bulimia. But I'm still obese and I've been fighting my weight since I was 9. I've been hiding food since I was six! Hiding food from my mom. She's a nutritionist/dietician so you'd think she'd realize that it is harder to lose weight when you're obese. It's just hard. I'm ready for this journey. I'm ready to work my band. I don't know what I would do without you guys. My eating has been all over the place and emotionally.. well I'm so grateful for a place to rant. I'm sorry for not being around this board much except to complain and vent. I promise... this is normally so unlike me. I promise I'll be back to normal supportive Sheila very soon. Thanks for reading.

Terry- Thanks so much for the encouragement! I was so disappointed in myself that I couldn't follow a program for one stinkin' day. Something to keep in mind is that when May 1st comes and we all have our bands, our little group will motivate and encourage one another. We'll be able to rely on our strengths as a group. For example, I LOVE to exercise but I'm not so good at the food part. We're gonna do this and I have no doubt that we'll all work this tool to the best of our abilities!! Tracy- Well that's even more exciting! To think that the list isn't even updated.... seriously how cool!! I'm having a clothing problem today too Tracy. I don't want to buy new clothes....I'm self pay so I can't buy new clothes...but I'm also super sick and tired of not having ANYTHING to wear. Seriously, this is getting ridiculous. Thank God for the Band!! Speaking of God, lol, I'm off to church. I sing as a soloist on many Sundays so I gotta go practice. Then it's work and then home to garden. Have a great day ya'll. With love, Sheila P.S. A final thought, my Dad told me to stop obsessing about the band last night and I commented about how it gives my mind something to do before the surgery. He emailed me a NASA report looking at the likelyhood of some huge asteroids hitting the Earth within 20 years. On the bottom of the report he wrote: Obsess About This!! I just thought that was hilarious. Have a great day, Beautiful April Bandits soon to be Butterflies.

Okay so I thought it would be fun to do a little number play with that long list of April "losers." The total weight loss for the group is 2413.4 pounds!! :faint: That is more than a TON!! Congrats on the great losses and I can only hope that we can do just as well. The average weight loss was 51.35 pounds. Seriously that's incredible. April 2007 Bandits, we've got BIG shoes to fill. Emotionally, I go from being crazy excited to being really depressed. There is still a big part of me that keeps beating myself up over the fact that I'm having this surgery... that I actually need it and cannot diet and exercise my way down. :hungry: I wish I had more willpower, more whatever so I could lose weight on my own. I tried to diet today and failed miserably. :faint: I'm so grateful that the band is in my future. But I'm also kind of worried. :omg: If I can't diet for ONE day, what am I doing putting myself on a permanent food plan? I guess I'm wondering if anyone else is having these thoughts. I know that they are just feelings not facts but those feelings can sure be overwhelming sometimes. :help: I am soooo grateful for this support network. You women rock! (Do we have any guys yet?) Off to get some sleep. (I strongly dislike DST and having to adjust...grrrr....) With love, Sheila :notagree

Welcome Julie! I think you'll find this thread and LBT VERY supportive and lots of fun. Chica Chula, I'm self pay too and although it's a big decision I know we're making the right choice. What's your height? I'm 5' 5" and we have the same goal weight. I was 300 pounds last June and went to a weight loss program (lost 40 pounds but gained 10 back.) So now I'm at 270 and trying really hard not to gain it all back. Last supper syndrome is really hard for me right now. All in all, I'm really excited and nervous. I told my mom on wednesday and she was NOT happy. She's a nutritionist/dietician and I think that she's really disappointed in me... that I can't diet and exercise 120 pounds off. It's hard to even imagine that in a year we could have the results of the April 06 Bandsters. I get so excited about it, I just start giggling with joy like a little kid. With love, Sheila

Mark PLEASE tell me that you're kidding!

I'm really excited about being banded on April 11th. I'm in a show right now and we run through the month of March. I'm self pay and a student. Currently I'm 270 ish but my goal is 150-160. My plan is to stop when I'm comfortable. I'm a little bummed today because my show just got a crummy review from our local newspaper. :faint: It's VERY frustrating to work so hard on something and then to get slammed. I was mentioned in the article as being one of the stronger and consistent singers... it's just painful to think that she didn't like the show. She came on Saturday night. The audience on Saturday LOVED the show and gave us a standing ovation. :clap2: I know I'm just being an "artist" and taking everything WAY too seriously. I try not to read reviews for this very reason. Anyway here's the link. http://www.modbee.com/arts/reviews/story/13357785p-13980793c.html One good part is that my friend Francesca got mentioned. This is her community paper so I'm glad they didn't slam her. Thanks for letting me vent. Sheila

Tami congrats on your bandiversary! You both have had great losses! Thanks so much for the inspiration!

well honey of course you're depressed! Try not to be so hard on yourself! You just moved to a new state, you're dealing with post-band blues and you have no face time with anyone who understands!! If I was in Ohio I would drive over and give you a HUGE hug. I agree with what everyone else has been saying. There are actually a few very helpful threads on food addictions, namely bulimia, but it's all the same root cause. We don't feel good enough about ourselves to treat our bodies with love and respect. It's hard to work the band or any program for that matter but I would recommend starting with working on yourself. Go to a therapist... even a few sessions can really help you get things in perspective. Check with the local hospitals to see if they have any OA meetings or any post op groups. The only person who would judge you at those meetings is yourself. Give yourself a little hug, keep reaching out on LBT and find someone who can give you, non-judgemental face time. You are doing great. You are reaching out and trying! Keep it up. With love, Sheila

that's great! I'm definitely looking forward to being able to walk up stairs like a normal person instead of climb them!

Those of you who did lose a lot of weight your first six months, how did you do it? Thanks so much for answering all my questions. Sheila

Congrats!! That is truly an awesome achievement! Keep up the great work and the awesome loss. I can't believe you've only been banded since January. Wow. Hope to hear more about your continued success, Sheila

Hello tink, We younger bandsters actually have a whole thread to ourselves.:clap2: The youngest person is 15 but it seems like the majority are in their early to mid twenties. Hope to see you over there! With love, Sheila

Lily, glad to hear things went well. So, what's it like being banded? Are you dreaming about clothes? Can you feel a difference in your body? Any restriction? Fill us younger bandsters in! You too Marissa. I'm pretty bummed about the whole insurance thing. Now they're saying a six month diet... soooo frustrating!! Oh well. All good things in time, right. Thanks for the encouragement. With love, Sheila

".... It will pass though." A less mature peron than I would find this a little humorous considering the subject of the thread. Okay, giggles aside, I've had serious bowel problems whenever I've done liquid diets. They do resolve once your body figures out whats going on. For me, moderate exercise and stretching after meals seemed to help. Best of luck, Sheila

Jodie, that SUCKS about the diabetes!! I am so sorry. I lost my first thirty pounds because my doctor told me that I was pre-diabetic. It's scary stuff but luckily, it is managable. Awesome weight loss. November Lily, good luck with your surgery. I hope everything goes well. When you feel better, come back to the boards and let us know how things went. Off to fight with my insurance company. Thanks for all the great advice about that. Sheila

My doctor said that the first six months of band are the most important and finding your sweet spot is really important for success. However, I know patience isn't really my strong suit.... Thanks so much for all of your support and encouragement. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your wisdom and comments. Thanks team!!

Currently I'm waiting on insurance approval for the lap band with Dr. Felix. I'm nervous and excited. Unfortunately, my normal method of dealing with emotion is to overeat...so I've gained about 10 pounds since my first appointment which was in late November. 10 POUNDS!!! AHHHHH!!! Did anyone else have this problem during pre-op? I'm not on any sort of diet yet. I feel like I'm in lap band no man's land. I'm pre-pre-op. How weird. I'm angry at myself which then leads to...guess what... more eating! :faint: I'm really doubting my ability to be able to do this. I know that this is just pre-surgery jitters and I know that this is just a tool. I really do believe that I can be sucessful... but I am really nervous about this most recent weight gain. :cry The only reason I haven't gained more is that I've had the flu twice and keep landing myself in the ER with dehydration from being so sick. Please HELP. Thanks for reading. You guys are all such an inspiration to me and I feel so grateful to have LBT in my life. Sheila 300 / 270- Went to a weight loss program over the summer and slowly gaining it all back =( P.S. While I was writing this post, my insurance company called me and I was denied. Sometimes, life stinks.